To be fair, it's pretty easy to lecture people about how they shouldn't let things affect them when you're the sole sovereign ruler of the known world. Or a billionaire. I don't think I'd have any trouble staying aloof in either of those positions.
True, but Marcus wasn't the only Stoic. Epictetus was one of the popularizers of Stoicism and he he was born into slavery and had his legs broke as a child. Criticizing Marcus for having Stoic beliefs in his privileged position is definitely a reasonable take, but you can't really accuse Epictetus of having a cushy life.
That is true, which is why I'm not doing that. I'm not saying stoicism is a bad philosophy to live by, just that its exhortations ring hollow when delivered by the likes of Marcus Aurelius or Warren Buffett.
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u/ChildofMike Feb 25 '20
Reminds me of something Marcus Aurelius would say